Central Market Food Walking Tour

Walk downtown with a guide, stopping at San Pedro Market to taste regional dishes, fresh juices and Andean treats. The guided walk runs for four hours.

Overview

This four-hour walk pairs Cusco's historic center with its food, roughly half in each. You start at the fountain in Plaza Regocijo, also called Plaza Kusipata, and follow a guide through the downtown streets, pausing at landmarks and at food stops along the way. The route then works into Mercado Central de San Pedro, where the tasting continues among the fruit vendors, cheese stalls, and cooked-food counters.

The food side is genuinely local. Reviewers describe trying exotic fruits straight from the vendors, cheeses, tamales from a market stall, chifa (the local Peruvian-Chinese mix), pastries, coffee, and ice cream, with the guide explaining what each thing is and where it comes from. Several travellers said they were full by the end, and one advised arriving hungry and gastronomically adventurous, since the tastings are many.

The guide carries the history half as much as the food half. Travellers repeatedly mention a running commentary on Cusco and its past between stops, so the tour doubles as a walking introduction to the city's landmarks while you eat your way through them. Groups are capped at ten people, and the tour is run by Inkas Wonderland.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Plaza RegocijoMeet at the water fountain in the central part of Plaza Kusipata, also known as Plaza Regocijo. The tour ends back at this same point.
2. Walk the historic centerRoughly the first half of the tour, about 2 hours, is spent in the Centro Historico de Cusco, with the guide covering landmarks and history while the group makes food stops along the way. Admission is free.
3. Mercado Central de San PedroThe second half, about 2 hours, takes place inside San Pedro Market, with tastings from the vendors. Admission is free.
4. Return to the startThe activity ends back at the meeting point on Plaza Regocijo.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this tour.

• Come hungry. Food tastings are included in the price, and there are a lot of them. Multiple reviewers said they were stuffed or full by the end, so treat this as a meal rather than a snack stroll.
• Pace and walking. Reviewers describe an easy stroll rather than a hike, with one calling the pace pleasant and not rushed. The tour does run four hours on foot across the center and the market, so plan for a full half-day of standing and walking.
• Food restrictions. The listing asks that you flag any meal restriction at the time of booking. One reviewer mentioned the guide adjusted a tasting for someone who had already tried a particular dish, which suggests some flexibility once you are on the tour.
• Small group feel. The maximum is ten travellers, which keeps the outing on a human scale. Reviewers describe a friendly guide and a tour that accommodates people comfortably across the whole route.
• History plus food. Expect history, not just eating. Reviewers often mention the guide's explanations of Cusco's history and the stories behind each dish, so the walking between stops comes with commentary rather than dead air.
• Gratuities not included. Tips for the guide are not covered by the tour price. Bring some cash if you want to leave one.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, so anyone with limited mobility should consider that before booking. A minimum number of travellers is required for the tour to run; if that minimum is not met, the operator offers a different date or a full refund. Confirmation can take up to 48 hours to arrive and is subject to availability. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.

Common Questions